Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meimanesk’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Floribunda  rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive very double blossoms that are medium pink tinted with green in coloration and possess an old rose configuration. The medium green foliage contrasts nicely with the pink blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for the production of exceptionally long lasting cut flowers under greenhouse growing conditions. The plant exhibits a semi-erect growth habit, and good resistance to Botrytis and Powdery Mildew under standard greenhouse growing conditions.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meimanesk’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross at the ‘Interniki’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.8,114) and the ‘Meinecta’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Meiquiza’ variety(non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new varietycan be summarized as follows:(‘Interniki’×‘Meinecta’)×‘Meiquiza’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose variety of the presentinvention

-   -   (a) exhibits a semi-erect growth habit,    -   (b) abundantly forms attractive very double medium pink tinted        with green blossoms of the old rose type,    -   (c) is particularly well suited for cut flower production under        greenhouse growing conditions, and    -   (d) displays flowers of an exceptionally long life when cut and        placed in a vase.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be used to advantage for the commercial production of cut flowersunder standard under glass cultural conditions.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ancestors. For instance, the flowers of the new variety possessan old rose configuration with a substantial number of petals asillustrated. The petals of the ‘Interniki’ variety commonly numberapproximately 35 to 40 and are medium red in coloration. The ‘Meinecta’variety forms conical-shaped buds and its spray flowers are smaller, andpale ocher in coloration. The ‘Meiquiza’ variety also formsconical-shaped buds and its flowers are smaller, pale pink incoloration, and possess a classical cut flower configuration. The newvariety forms globular shaped buds and flowers having an old roseconfiguration.

Also, the new variety of the present invention can be readilydistinguished from the ‘Meiptipier’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,194)which possesses approximately 27 to 40 petals on average wherein thecentral petals are deep rosy pink and the outer petals are pale ivorypink with approximately 5 to 11 small petaloids being present per bloom.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown thatthe characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meimanesk’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observedduring September while budded on Rosa indica understock and growing ingreenhouses at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions incentimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface, and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year-old plants during August while budded onRosa indica understock and growing in a greenhouse at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 130 cm on average.        -   Width.—Approximately 30 to 40 cm on average.        -   Habit.—Semi-erect.-   Branches:    -   -   Stems.—Surface texture: smooth and rigid. Color: near            Yellow-Green Group 144A and 144B when immature, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146A when mature.        -   Thorns.—Size: variable (as illustrated). Quantity: on 15 cm            of young stems approximately 1 on average greater than 5 mm            in length and approximately 17 on average less than 5 mm in            length. Configuration: relatively straight on the upper            surface and concave on the under surface. Color: immature            thorns are near Yellow-Green Group 151A tinted with            Greyed-Orange Group 172B, and the mature thorns are near            Yellow-Green Group 151A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, broad, approximately 1.3 cm in            length on average, approximately 1 cm in width on average,            and near Green Group 137A in coloration.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: glandular, smooth, medium green,            near Green Group 137B and 137C. Under surface: smooth, and            commonly bear a few prickles. Length: approximately 1.5 cm            on average with the terminal leaflet.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: somewhat            ovate with an obtuse base and a cuspidate tip. Size:            terminal leaflets commonly measure approximately 3.5 cm in            length and approximately 3 cm in width on average.            Serration: simple and regular (as illustrated). General            appearance: rather dense, and medium green with a dull            aspect. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: near Green            Group 137A with Greyed-Red Group 178A. Under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 147B and 147C with Greyed-Red Group 178A.            Color (mature foliage): Upper surface: near Green Group            137A. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B and 147C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly in clusters of 2 to 7 flowers            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Hairy with tiny prickles, the length is            approximately 5 cm on average, the diameter is approximately            0.2 cm, and the coloration is Yellow-Green Group 144B, 144C,            and 144D.        -   Sepals.—Configuration: elongated, approximately 2 to 2.4 cm            in length on average, tomentose on the upper surface,            glandular on the under surface, two sepals commonly possess            no extensions, and three sepals commonly possess weak            extensions, and the coloration is near Yellow-Green Group            144A on the upper surface and near Yellow-Green Group 144D            at the central area of the under surface.        -   Buds.—Shape: globular. Size: small (as illustrated). Length:            approximately 2 cm on average. Color: Upper surface: as the            calyx breaks near Orange Group 27A and 27B suffused and            veined with Yellow-Green Group 145A together with a major            suffusion of Yellow-Green Group 145A. Under surface: near            Orange Group 27A and 27B broadly suffused Red Group 48D and            veined with Yellow-Green Group 145A together with a major            suffusion of Yellow-Green Group 145A.        -   Flower.—Shape: old rose type. Size: approximately 6 to 7 cm            in diameter on average. Color (when blooming): medium pink            tinted with green, the underside is near Orange Group 27B            and 27C bordered with Yellow-Green Group 145A, and the under            side near Orange Group 27A and 27B suffused with Red Group            48C and bordered with Yellow-Green Group 145A. Fragrance:            none. Petal number: very double (as illustrated) and            commonly with approximately 220 to 250 petals on average.            Petal arrangement: imbricated. Petal shape: rounded. Petal            length: approximately 4 cm on average. Petal width:            approximately 3.5 cm on average. Petal texture: firm. Petal            margin: undulated and reflexed. Petal apex: rounded and            slightly pointed and sometimes denticulated. Petal base:            obtuse. Pistil number: approximately 150 on average. Style            length: approximately 0.2 to 0.8 cm on average. Style color:            near Greyed-Yellow Group 160A. Stigma size: approximately            0.1 cm on average. Stamen: none observed during observation            to date. Lasting quality: exceptionally long. The blossoms            commonly last approximately 28 days on average on the plant,            and approximately 21 days on average when cut and placed in            a vase. Receptacle: smooth, approximately 0.6 cm in length            on average, approximately 0.8 to 1 cm in width at the widest            point on average, and funnel-shaped in longitudinal section.            Hips: none observed to date under greenhouse growing            conditions.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Medium strength.        -   Blooming.—Abundant and nearly continuous.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Good under standard greenhouse            growing conditions, especially with respect to Botrytis and            Powdery Mildew.        -   Aptitude to forcing.—Very good.

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a semi-erectgrowth habit, (b) abundantly forms attractive very double medium pinktinted with green blossoms of the old rose type, (c) is particularlywell suited for cut flower production under greenhouse growingconditions, and (d) displays flowers of an exceptionally long life whencut and placed in a vase; substantially as herein shown and described.